In November 2026 Chile will host two of the most important gatherings of the global wine industry: The World's 50 Best Vineyards gala, from 16 to 20 November in Santiago, and the first Chilean edition of Vinexpo Explorer, from 23 to 26 November. It is the first time the awards for the world's best vineyards to visit are held in a Latin American country, according to the agency EFE, as reported by Infobae on 25 October.
The two events target different audiences. The World's 50 Best Vineyards rewards the best wine tourism experiences, that is, the wineries that best welcome visitors, and expects around 1,000 attendees. Vinexpo Explorer is a business meeting: it brings some 50 international buyers and specialist journalists to meet Chilean wineries.
Dates of The World's 50 Best Vineyards and Vinexpo Explorer in Chile
| Event | Dates | Place | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| The World's 50 Best Vineyards 2026 | 16 to 20 November | Santiago and surroundings | Awards for the world's best vineyards to visit |
| Vinexpo Explorer Chile 2026 | 23 to 26 November | Chile (first edition in the country) | Business meeting with some 50 international buyers |
Source: EFE via Infobae (25 October 2026). According to WiP, the ceremony would take place on 18 November at the Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque; the organisers have not publicly detailed the full programme.
What The World's 50 Best Vineyards is and which Chilean wineries are on the list
The ranking is voted by an academy of more than 700 wine and travel experts and sommeliers, who assess hospitality, landscape, food, architecture, activities, service and value for money, not only the quality of the wine, according to WiP. The 51-100 list and a new "One To Watch" award are announced before the gala, where the order from 1 to 50 is revealed.
| Position in 2025 | Winery | Valley |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ViK | Cachapoal (Millahue) |
| 10 | Montes | Colchagua |
| 34 | Almaviva | Maipo (Puente Alto) |
| 40 | Viu Manent | Colchagua |
| 41 | Santa Rita | Maipo (Buin) |
| 42 | Casas del Bosque | Casablanca |
Source: The World's 50 Best Vineyards 2025, according to WiP. ViK, which took first place in 2025, will enter the Hall of Fame in November 2026, which leaves it out of future lists. Several of these wineries are in the valleys we describe in our guide to Chile's wine route.
Vinexpo Explorer in Chile: business for 50 wineries
Vinexpo Explorer is a format created in 2017 by the French company Vinexposium, already held in Austria, the United States, France, Canada and Argentina. In Chile it is organised by the trade association Vinos de Chile and ProChile. Fifty Chilean wineries will take part and some 400 business meetings are expected. Julio Alonso Ducci, commercial director of Vinos de Chile, projects at least US$4 million in additional business over the following 12 to 24 months, according to EFE.
| Chilean wine data | Figure |
|---|---|
| Position among world exporters | 4th, after France, Spain and Italy |
| Destination markets | About 140 |
| Bottled wine exports, last 12 months | 44.7 million cases |
| Value exported, last 12 months | US$1,216 million |
| Year-on-year change | -4.8% in volume and -6.4% in value |
| Vineyard area | About 102,000 hectares |
Source: EFE via Infobae, with industry data (25 October 2026). The agency adds that exports to the United States fell in the first half and that a general 12.5% tariff has applied in that market since July 2026.
Do you own a winery, a hotel or a restaurant in a wine valley? Reach travellers planning their wine route through Chile.
See advertising optionsWhat it means for travellers
Both events are for guests and professionals: neither EFE nor WiP reports tickets for the public. For travellers the effect will be indirect: more visibility for Chilean wineries open to tourism and, during those weeks, more demand for hotels and restaurants in Santiago and the nearby valleys. If you plan to visit wineries in the second half of November, book tours in advance.
- Wineries near Santiago: the Maipo Valley, home to Concha y Toro, Santa Rita and Almaviva, is less than an hour from the capital. Concha y Toro's prices and opening hours are in our guide to Concha y Toro winery.
- A multi-day trip: Casablanca, Colchagua and Cachapoal can be combined in a road trip; we describe it in the Central Valley and vineyards road trip.
- Beyond wine: for pisco and the Elqui Valley, see the pisco route.
Frequently asked questions
When is The World's 50 Best Vineyards 2026 in Chile?
From 16 to 20 November 2026 in Santiago, according to EFE. It is the first time it is held in Latin America.
When is Vinexpo Explorer Chile?
From 23 to 26 November 2026. It is its first edition in Chile, organised by Vinos de Chile and ProChile.
Which Chilean winery was the best in the world in 2025?
ViK, in the Cachapoal Valley, took first place in The World's 50 Best Vineyards 2025.
